Photodissociation and photoionization of sodium coated C $_\mathsf{60}$ clusters

At the Prague Asterix Laser System Center (PALS) the Asterix iodine laser delivering up to 700 J/0.5 ns is used as a pump source for X-ray laser experiments and applications. The prepulse technique was applied which is known to improve the neon-like X-ray laser output at the J = 0-1 transition dramatically. Since Zn slab targets were used the operating wavelength was 21.2 nm. A prepulse having up to 20 J precedes the main pulse by 10 ns. The main beam and the prepulse beam are focussed by two different optical systems separately and their foci are superimposed at the target surface. By implementing a half-cavity set-up for double-pass amplification using a Mo/Si multilayer mirror - which can be used for more than 100 shots - the X-ray laser output was more than 10 times stronger than at the single pass in a 30 mm long plasma. Double-pass amplification was observed to be most efficient when the pump pulse duration was at least 150 ps longer than the round trip time ( ≈ 260 ps) in the half-cavity. Under this fundamental condition the X-ray laser reached saturation in the double-pass regime containing approx. 4 mJ energy which has been proved to be enough for future applications. In this contribution, the X-ray laser features like divergence in two dimensions, the beam quality (symmetry), the pointing angle and the integrated intensity giving an estimation of the output energy are investigated over 110 shots. To characterize the stability of the X-ray laser the shot distribution, the mean value and the standard deviation for these parameters are evaluated. For 18 shots in a series - what was achievable during one day - the corresponding values are given, and a statistical analysis carrying out a chi-squared test characterize the Zn X-ray laser as a robust tool suitable for applications. In the future it is planned to allocate X-ray laser beam time to external research groups. Received 17 May 2002 / Received in final form 10 September 2002 Published online 6 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: praeg@fzu.cz     

Study by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy of a Dy@C $_{\mathsf{82}}$ single crystal

We report the first X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy study of a single crystal of the rare-earth endohedral fullerene Dy@C₈₂. The lattice is found to be body-centered cubic (a = 25.79 Å, space group which is at variance with previous reports and confirms that several types of structures can be stabilized in Dy@C₈₂. X-ray diffraction/diffuse scattering methods reveal no low-temperature change down to 12 K for the present structure. The Raman spectroscopy data are comparable to those of other M@C₈₂ endohedral compounds. However, the Dy oxidation state and the force constant of the low-frequency metal-cage stretching mode do not follow the simple relationship observed before.Received: 29 August 2003, Published online: 15 October 2003PACS: 61.10.Nz X-ray diffraction - 61.48.+c Fullerenes and fullerene-related materials - 78.30.Na Fullerenes and related materialsT. Wågberg: Present address: Groupe de Dynamique des Phases Condensées, Université Montpellier II, Place E. Bataillon, CC026, 34095 Montpellier, France     

Insulating surface layer on single crystal K $\mathsf{_{3}}\mathsf{C}\mathsf{_{60}}$

Using angle-dependent photoemission spectra of core and valence levels we show that metallic, single crystal K³C₆₀ is terminated by an insulating or weakly-conducting surface layer. We attribute this to the effects of strong intermolecular correlations combined with the average surface charge state. Several controversies on the electronic structure are thereby resolved.Received: 16 July 2004, Published online: 5 November 2004PACS: 71.20.Tx Fullerenes and related materials; intercalation compounds - 73.20.-r Electron states at surfaces and interfaces - 79.60.Bm Clean metal, semiconductor, and insulator surfaces     

Feshbach resonances in $\mathsf{^{23}}$Na- $\mathsf{^{87}}$Rb

We describe s-wave collisions between ultracold ²³Na and ⁸⁷Rb atoms in the presence of a magnetic field. For any collision input channel knowledge of the singlet and triplet intermolecular potentials [1] enables us to predict the variation in scattering lengths as a function of the magnetic field. We employ the Born-Oppenheimer approximation to predict several Feshbach resonances for ²³Na⁸⁷Rb. We also include a discussion of why these resonances are expected to be narrow as observed in the case of ⁸⁷Rb₂.Received: 6 August 2004, Published online: 23 November 2004PACS: 34.90. + q Other topics in atomic collisions - 03.75.Hh Multicomponent condensates     

Static magnetic susceptibility of the RbC $\mathsf{_{60}}$ polymerized fulleride

A two component model of negative U centers coupled with the Fermi sea of itinerant fermions is discussed in connection with high-temperature superconductivity of cuprates, and superfluidity of atomic fermions. We examine the phase transition and the condensed state of this boson-fermion model (BFM) beyond the ordinary mean-field approximation in two and three dimensions. No pairing of fermions and no condensation are found in two-dimensions for any symmetry of the order parameter. The expansion in the strength of the order parameter near the transition yields no linear homogeneous term in the Ginzburg-Landau-Gorkov equation and a zero upper critical field in any-dimensional BFM, which indicates that previous mean-field discussions of the model are flawed. Normal and anomalous Greens functions are obtained diagrammatically and analytically in the condensed state of a simplest version of 3D BFM. A pairing of bosons analogous to the Cooper pairing of fermions is found. There are three coupled condensates in the model, described by the off-diagonal single-particle boson, pair-fermion and pair-boson fields. These results negate the common wisdom that the boson-fermion model is adequately described by the BCS theory at weak coupling.Received: 26 February 2004, Published online: 18 June 2004PACS: 74.20.-z Theories and models of superconducting state - 74.20.Mn Nonconventional mechanisms (spin fluctuations, polarons and bipolarons, resonating valence bond model, anyon mechanism, marginal Fermi liquid, Luttinger liquid, etc.) - 74.20.Rp Pairing symmetries (other than s-wave) - 74.25.Dw Superconductivity phase diagrams     

On the diffraction pattern of C \mathsf{_{60}} peapods

We present detailed calculations of the diffraction pattern of a powder of bundles of C₆₀ peapods. The influence of all pertinent structural parameters of the bundles on the diffraction diagram is discussed, which should lead to a better interpretation of X-ray and neutron diffraction diagrams. We illustrate our formalism for X-ray scattering experiments performed on peapod samples synthesized from 2 different technics, which present different structural parameters. We propose and test different criteria to solve the difficult problem of the filling rate determination.Received: 19 May 2004, Published online: 26 November 2004PACS: 61.46. + w Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals - 61.10.Dp Theories of diffraction and scattering - 61.10.Nz X-ray diffraction     

Determination of electron density in a wall stabilized Ar-CO ${\mathsf{_2}}$ thermal plasma

The electron density is measured in an argon-CO₂ thermal plasma by optical emission spectroscopy. Electron density is deduced from the Stark broadening of the argon line and hydrogen (H ) line. Different theories are used and compared. The effect of CO₂ molecule upon this plasma is studied as a function of the Ar-CO₂ mixture composition and discharge current. The electron density is ranging from 3 x 10²¹ m^-3 to 5.6 x 10²² m^-3. The influence of the arc confinement is studied and the electron density gradients are evaluated. Departure from local thermal equilibrium is also discussed.Received: 5 September 2003, Published online: 21 October 2003PACS: 52.70.Kz Optical (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) measurements - 52.80.Mg Arcs; sparks; lightning; atmospheric electricity     

Electron-phonon interaction in carbon clathrate hex- $\mathsf{C_{40}}$

We investigate an extended spin ladder with diagonal frustrated exchanges in a wide parameter regime. By representing the model as a sum of semidefinite positive projection operators, we prove that this model has exactly a dimer ground state. Smoothly changing parameters may lead the model cover several exactly known models. Starting from this ladder model, we proposed two two-dimensional net models with exact ground states. The quantum phase transition of the ground state, due to the change of exchange strengths along perpendicular rungs, is also discussed. Received 13 October 2002 Published online 27 January 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: schen@thphy.uni.duesseldorf.de     

$\mathsf{\sqrt{3}}$ linear structures in the Te/Ni(111) system

Surface structures in the Te/Ni(111) system are revealed by using reflection high-energy electron diffraction combined with X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies. At a 0.33 mono-layer (ML)-Te/Ni(111) surface, a reversible structural phase transition is observed with a transition temperature T_c of 380 C. The diffraction pattern from the low temperature phase is accompanied by streaks. The high and low temperature phases are characterized by and rectangle, respectively. The mechanism of the phase transition is explained by the order-disorder transition with a rumpled chain model. Both 0.51 ML- and 0.44 ML-Te/Ni(111) surfaces exhibit the complex diffraction patterns accompanied by diffuse streaks. These surface structures are characterized by the rectangle and , respectively. All diffuse streaks obtained at the above surfaces are consistently interpreted in the view of the ill-ordered arrangements of the well-ordered linear chains. It is shown that the linear structure is the key in the Te/Ni(111) system.Received: 1 December 2003, Published online: 20 April 2004PACS: 61.14.Hg Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) - 68.65.-k Low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale systems: structure and nonelectronic properties - 64.60.Cn Order-disorder transformations; statistical mechanics of model systems     

Surface second-harmonic generation in Au: TiO$\mathsf{_{2}}$ cermet thin films

The Surface Second-Harmonic Generation (SSHG) in Au: TiO₂ thin films of nanocermets is studied with samples of different metallic volume fractions using an IR Nd: YAG pulsed laser. We worked in a reflection geometry by varying the incidence angle and the directions of the incident beam polarization and of an analyzer of the Second Harmonic beam. We show that the SH signal is not due to electric dipolar processes only but can be treated within the general a, b, and d formalism where surfaces and bulk SH currents are well distinguished, and by describing the dielectric function of cermets within the effective-medium theory. The effective values obtained for a, b, and d are attributed to gold but the rather small discrepancies between them and those given by models are understandable by the fact that our samples are heterogeneous and not semi-infinite.Received: 19 March 2004, Published online: 6 July 2004PACS: 42.65.Ky Frequency conversion; harmonic generation, including higher-order harmonic generation - 78.66.-w Optical properties of specific thin films - 78.30.Ly Disordered solids     

A theoretical study of the Y$\mathsf{_{3}}$O clusters

Hybrid density functional calculations are performed to study the structural and electronic properties of neutral, anionic and cationic Y₃O clusters. The most stable structures of these clusters are found to be triply bridging oxygen atom structures with C_S symmetry. The ground states of Y₃O, Y₃O^- and Y₃O ⁺ are doublet (²A), triplet (³A) and singlet (¹A), respectively. The calculated electron affinities and ionization potentials are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Time-dependent density functional theory is used to calculate the low-lying excited states. A theoretical assignment for the features in the experimental photoelectron spectra is given.Received: 5 November 2003, Published online: 20 January 2004PACS: 36.40.Mr Spectroscopy and geometrical structure of clusters - 31.15.Ew Density-functional theory - 34.50.Gb Electronic excitation and ionization of molecules; intermediate molecular states (including lifetimes, state mixing, etc.)